# Garland Certain

> Garland Certain (1943-2024) was a western Kentucky educator and community banker, the founding president and CEO of United Community Bank of West Kentucky. After entering banking in 1977, he helped build the Morganfield-based institution, chaired the Kentucky Bankers Association in 2009-2010 and retired as CEO in May 2022. His earlier career included mathematics teaching, coaching and school administration.

- **Role:** Community banker; former mathematics teacher, coach and school administrator
- **Organizations:** United Community Bank of West Kentucky, United Community Bancshares, Farmers State Bank, Sturgis (later First Kentucky and Integra Bank), Kentucky Bankers Association, Henderson County High School, Sturgis Junior High, Union County High School, Uniontown Elementary School, Earl C. Clements Job Corps, Sturgis Kiwanis Club, Union County Chamber of Commerce, Union County Industrial Foundation, Elkwood Golf Course
- **From:** Dekoven, Kentucky, United States
- **Education:** High school graduate, Sturgis High School, Master’s degree in mathematics, Murray State University
- **Known for:** Founding president and CEO of United Community Bank of West Kentucky., Led the bank through local branch expansion and the Dixon Bank acquisition; approximately $450 million in assets at retirement., Kentucky Bankers Association chairman, 2009-2010.

## Career timeline

- **1965** — Began teaching mathematics and coaching football at Henderson County High School.
- **1966** — Began teaching mathematics at Sturgis Junior High and coached basketball and football.
- **1968-1976** — Worked weekends in recreation at Earl C. Clements Job Corps.
- **1977** — Entered banking at Farmers State Bank in Sturgis; later became president and a regional manager as the institution changed names.
- **2000-2002** — Helped found United Community Bank; organizing activity preceded the December 2001 charter and January 2002 public branch openings. Served as founding president and CEO.
- **2009-2010** — Chaired the Kentucky Bankers Association.
- **2014** — Co-signed a regulatory comment letter with bank president Gary Lovell.
- **2020-2021** — United Community opened its Dixon office on December 31, 2020, with grand-opening events in January 2021.
- **2022** — Dixon Bank merged into United Community on April 23; Certain retired as CEO on May 1 with continued board and part-time project work.

## Achievements

- Founding president and CEO of United Community Bank of West Kentucky.
- Led the bank through local branch expansion and the Dixon Bank acquisition; approximately $450 million in assets at retirement.
- Kentucky Bankers Association chairman, 2009-2010.
- Completed a 45-year banking career.
- Led the bank during repeated appearances in American Banker’s Best Banks to Work For coverage.

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Died on November 22, 2024, aged 81; funeral-home obituary published that month.
- **2022-05** — Retired as CEO effective May 1, with continued board service and planned part-time project work.

## Links

- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/garland-certain-2b021135

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/garland-certain
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24